I take one perday along with Toprol XL each lowers the BP and I am getting readings as low as 80/45 sometimes. The problem is my butt is dragging to much and I feel light headed. I have lost 25 pounds in the last two months and I am working out like a maddog to lose the rest in the next 4 months. Add the low BP and the Toprol fatigue and it is no fun hitting the weights..

So has anyone split a Benicar before and it still works the entire day or does it lose some strength.

I can tell you that splitting meds is not always a good idea. I worked for a Pharmaceutical Co and splitting pills is not going to give you a correct amount of MG per half. Some meds although they are processed together do not always have the correct mgs on both halves. Meaning if you cut a 20 mg benicar in half you may not get 10mg per half. You may get 8 and 2 and so on and so fourth. I do not know about Benicar you would be safer to ask your pharmacist if you can do that with Benicar. ..hope this helps..Lisa

What Moxie says is true... You can't get an accurate split. Having said that, Benicar is a splittable pill. And, splitting 20 into 10 makes some sense. In fact, the FDA originally recommended that the starting dose be 10 mg.

However, it seems like it would make more sense to split the Toprol XL and weaning off that one. I assume this one can be split. A non-splittable beta-blocker is a scary thought.

Just came back from the doctor Wednesday-I too take Benicar. I was on 40mg per day and nothing else. I had BP readings as low as 89/59 to the highest 110/68. I had an extreme vertigo attack in Nov of last year and never felt "right" since-dizzy, off balance, brain fog-was then treated for "inner ear" antibiotics, ears cleaned, MRI, C-Scan-Eply manuvers etc.. nothing helped. Another neurologist thought I was suffering from Migraine Associated Vertigo wanted me to take a seizure med. Doctor said Wednesday-I might be suffering from HYPOTENSION. She suggested I cut my Benicar in half using a pill spliter. I too questioned about the halves not being same amounts and she said not to worry-it wouldn't make that much difference-just make sure the cut wasn't way off. I'm on my second day of splitting the pill-my pressure taken earlier was 110/69 in the a.m. To me I think I have high blood pressure -lol-since almost a.m. readings with 40mg was in the upper 80's to mid 90's (upper number) and lower number never got above 67.
By the way I also lost 30 pounds and wondering if my dosage was too high. I just hoping I don't see it getting high again. Since it's only been two days-it's too soon to see if the dizziness / brain fog etc.. stays away. Doctor told me to continue for 2 weeks and as long as the number doesnt go over 130-continue the 20mg and she will send in a prescription for 20mg. (Now wonder if I could save money still fill the prescription at 40mg and just continue to split in half-it's a thought) Good Luck -Let me know how you are doing.

I just decided to keep a little blog going in my efforts to cut back on the benicar. It might help someone

Day one/ 3/19/05
I can tell a big difference today I have had lots of energy and there has been no dizziness. My bp has slowly risen through out the day up to where it is now at 104/63 and the pulse has stayed at 80 bpm as usual. If it stays at this level I might drop the benicar totally in a week or so. My short-term memory was better today also.

Actually, the coating on Benicar isn't really there for absorption. It absorbs very quickly even with the coating. It's more for freshness. So, basically, the split tablets won't keep as long.

Pal

I thought that a main reason for coating pills was so that the pill would not be degraded by the harsh acids of the stomach. Coating the pill allows the pill to bypass the stomach, and then be absorbed in the intestines.

How did you find it out that the only reason for the coating on Benicar was for freshness?

OTOH, mikey51 seems to be doing so well by splitting Benicar, that my point is really moot.

I thought that a main reason for coating pills was so that the pill would not be degraded by the harsh acids of the stomach. Coating the pill allows the pill to bypass the stomach, and then be absorbed in the intestines.

How did you find it out that the only reason for the coating on Benicar was for freshness?

OTOH, mikey51 seems to be doing so well by splitting Benicar, that my point is really moot.

I believe you are referring to an enteric coating. AFAIK, the coating on Benicar is not of this type. Also, Benicar is on the pill splitting list for just about all the insurance companies that have such a program.

I believe you are referring to an enteric coating. AFAIK, the coating on Benicar is not of this type. Also, Benicar is on the pill splitting list for just about all the insurance companies that have such a program.

Pal

I stand corrected. Thanks!

How did you find this stuff out? Most of the articles that I read warn about splitting pills that have coatings, whether enteric or film.

I have some pills of mine that I would like to split, but I have held back because of the coating.

I found the following PDF document, which lists pills that can be split, both brand name and generic:

I've been splitting my benicar 40mg in half for about 1 week-Dr. thought I was getting Hypotension. Was running in the upper 80's / low 90's (top number) My pressure is still running in 103-110 /upper 60's& low 70's. Just took it at 8:00 pm 110/71-this a.m 103/66. She told me to keep monitoring and make sure it doesn't go above 130. She told me was o.k. to split Benicar-I was concern about not getting it exactly in half and she said not to worry. I am having abit of trouble splitting it in half with a pill cutter I bought at the Pharmacy-but if my pressure continues at these numbers for 2 week period-she's going to call in the lower dosage. I have noticed my pulse has risen a bit-it was running around 60. Now I'm getting in the upper 60's and low 70's.
I suffered from dizzy spells for past 6 months-I hope the low BP reading were the main cause.
Good Luck with your Benicar reduction-I've lost 30 pounds and hope to lose more -to finally eliminate HP pills totally!

I've been splitting my benicar 40mg in half for about 1 week-Dr. thought I was getting Hypotension. Was running in the upper 80's / low 90's (top number) My pressure is still running in 103-110 /upper 60's& low 70's. Just took it at 8:00 pm 110/71-this a.m 103/66. She told me to keep monitoring and make sure it doesn't go above 130. She told me was o.k. to split Benicar-I was concern about not getting it exactly in half and she said not to worry. I am having abit of trouble splitting it in half with a pill cutter I bought at the Pharmacy-but if my pressure continues at these numbers for 2 week period-she's going to call in the lower dosage. I have noticed my pulse has risen a bit-it was running around 60. Now I'm getting in the upper 60's and low 70's.
I suffered from dizzy spells for past 6 months-I hope the low BP reading were the main cause.
Good Luck with your Benicar reduction-I've lost 30 pounds and hope to lose more -to finally eliminate HP pills totally!

Thanks for the good words Pat52. Getting rid of the meds is also my goal. I am sure I can lose the Benicar eventually but I am not sure about the toprol. I am going to give it everything I have to get my pulse down to normal levels or atleast to where the toprol dosage is very small..

The pusle is still holding at 80 bpm and the bp is 107/65 and I still feel good.

My pulse is down to 75bpm today with a bp of 100/69. I thought my weights would go up at the gym after cutting back on the Benicar but they are still about 10% percent below where I feel they shoud be. I am going to cut the weights to one day on and one day off with cardio on the off days and see if my strength doesn't come up.

I thought I had the the toprol fatigue beat with a low glycemic diet but it doesn't seem to help as I thought. OH well the saga continues

Mikey51-
Glad your continuing to have luck cutting the Benicar. I am so far so -getting good readings - had one low 94/57 one morning this week but the other readings are holding in the low 100's/upper 60's-low 70's. These were preety much the same readings I was getting with 40mg.- thought I would see higher numbers. I did notice 2nd day I cut dosage I got the highest reading 125/71 and had some heart paps-probably I was still a little nervous cutting my dosage. I was suffering from what the neurologist thought was inner ear problems-"ear rocks" just kept upping my valium-after 6 months of valium 10mg a day and doing exercises and going to a "balance clinic" and still feeling off balance, unsteady, brain fog (I had to quit my job of 23 years due to this!) I told my regular doctor if them rocks hadn't moved back by now they aint gonna! Showed her my BP readings at 40mg-now she thinks I am Hypotensive! I was very hesitant to go on them in the first place my pressure was in the 145/80- 152/90 rnage-but I think it was more white coat-everytime I went she wanted to push more pills-At one point she wanted to add another BP pill I said no-and that is when I bought a BP monitor. I am hoping I can cut the 20mg and finally off totally. One odd thing has happened- I walked everyday for at least 30 minutes sometimes 1 hour per day. Twice - I have experienced after a brisk walk - about 5 minutes later started to have coughing and wheezing spells that lasted about 10 minutes-couldnt talk just coughed, wheezed and gasped for air. Told doctor-she said it happens to her when walking in cool air and kind of blew me off-I asked what to do for it-she listen to my lungs said they were fine and if I wanted she could order an inhaler for me-this doesnt seem right to me-Ive never had asthma or any breathing problems before-have you noticed or if you do have a change in breathing with exercising please post. By the way my pulse is still running in the low 60's one day it was in the 70's but back to the low 60's.
Hope you have continued success and are able to at least get rid on one med.

Mikey51-
Glad your continuing to have luck cutting the Benicar. I am so far so -getting good readings - had one low 94/57 one morning this week but the other readings are holding in the low 100's/upper 60's-low 70's. These were preety much the same readings I was getting with 40mg.- thought I would see higher numbers. I did notice 2nd day I cut dosage I got the highest reading 125/71 and had some heart paps-probably I was still a little nervous cutting my dosage. I was suffering from what the neurologist thought was inner ear problems-"ear rocks" just kept upping my valium-after 6 months of valium 10mg a day and doing exercises and going to a "balance clinic" and still feeling off balance, unsteady, brain fog (I had to quit my job of 23 years due to this!) I told my regular doctor if them rocks hadn't moved back by now they aint gonna! Showed her my BP readings at 40mg-now she thinks I am Hypotensive! I was very hesitant to go on them in the first place my pressure was in the 145/80- 152/90 rnage-but I think it was more white coat-everytime I went she wanted to push more pills-At one point she wanted to add another BP pill I said no-and that is when I bought a BP monitor. I am hoping I can cut the 20mg and finally off totally. One odd thing has happened- I walked everyday for at least 30 minutes sometimes 1 hour per day. Twice - I have experienced after a brisk walk - about 5 minutes later started to have coughing and wheezing spells that lasted about 10 minutes-couldnt talk just coughed, wheezed and gasped for air. Told doctor-she said it happens to her when walking in cool air and kind of blew me off-I asked what to do for it-she listen to my lungs said they were fine and if I wanted she could order an inhaler for me-this doesnt seem right to me-Ive never had asthma or any breathing problems before-have you noticed or if you do have a change in breathing with exercising please post. By the way my pulse is still running in the low 60's one day it was in the 70's but back to the low 60's.
Hope you have continued success and are able to at least get rid on one med.

I haven't had any problems with breathing Pat, and in fact my wife and I just
did a two mile walk at the part a few minutes ago. The tempeture is about 45 and it was very windy so I should have gotten something along the same line as you but I didn't. I also haven't had any problems while doiing cardio/walking indoors.

I don't know where you live but where I live the weather has been really warm except for the last few days so there is lots of things blooming.You
might have ran into something you are slightly allergic to.

I do know that some of the meds I see mentioned here have cough problems that go along with them so that might be the problem. It would be worth looking into.

Hey Pat:
I thought about this after I had answered you. The next time you walk you might want to suck on a cough drop or chew gum to keep everything moist..
You never know when you problem just might be something simple..Occams Razor